Pakistan says safety of crew paramount in efforts to free hostages from hijacked oil tanker

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday said no action could be taken that would endanger the lives of Pakistani hostages being held aboard an oil tanker hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia, as efforts continue to secure their safe release.

Addressing the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said 10 Pakistani nationals remained among the hostages and that their release had not yet been secured.

According to diplomatic sources, the oil tanker Honour 25 was seized by pirates on April 21 while sailing near Somalia. A total of 17 crew members were taken hostage, including 10 Pakistanis, four Indonesians, one Indian and one Myanmar national.

The Foreign Office said all relevant institutions, including the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Ministry of Interior, were closely coordinating on the matter.

Andrabi said Pakistani authorities remained in constant contact with the vessel’s owner and other concerned parties, while Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Somalia and its ambassador in Djibouti were continuously monitoring developments.

He added that a team from the Pakistani embassy had also visited Mogadishu to gather first-hand information about the situation.

The spokesperson said the crisis had become particularly sensitive because the tanker was carrying highly dangerous and explosive cargo, making any rescue operation extremely complex.

He said Pakistan had urged the Somali government and the ship’s owner to ensure that the hostages were provided with essential supplies, including food and drinking water.

Andrabi acknowledged the concerns of the families of those being held captive and appealed for patience, assuring them that the government was keeping the matter under constant review.

“The release of the hostages remains among the government’s top priorities,” he said.

Commenting on water-related issues with India, the Foreign Office spokesperson expressed concern over reports that New Delhi had invited bids for the proposed Chenab-Uplink Tunnel project, which is aimed at diverting water from the Chenab River to the Beas system.

He said the project, along with proposed silt-flushing operations at the Salal Dam, could violate the Indus Waters Treaty and potentially give India greater control over water flows.

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According to Andrabi, Pakistan had neither received formal notification nor been consulted regarding the proposed plans.

He warned that any attempt to divert Pakistan’s share of water could adversely affect the country’s economy, food security and regional stability, urging the international community to encourage full implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty.

The spokesperson also addressed relations with Afghanistan, saying Pakistan remained committed to resolving issues through dialogue and diplomacy but could no longer tolerate attacks on its citizens and security personnel originating from Afghan territory.

He urged the Afghan authorities to ensure that their soil was not used for terrorist activities against Pakistan and said Islamabad had conveyed its security concerns to international partners, including China.

Andrabi added that regional security and terrorism-related challenges were also discussed during the recent strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the European Union.